What I learned from Madame Bovary.

I really thought I had read the novel before. I remember having to read it in one of my European Studies classes in University – I guess I missed that assignment! Although I was positive I had read it, I could not for the sake of me remember what it was about. Therefore, I decided to read it again – or rather, as it so happened, for the first time. After the first few pages I realized that it couldn’t have been that I read this, since nothing seemed familiar. I have a bad memory – but not that bad.

After all the great things I have heard about the novel and the great things that I even believed the novel to be, I was extremely disappointed after the first couple of chapters. Gustave Flaubert’s writing style is lovely, I have to admit that much, but the story bored me to tears. The first few chapters comprised of nothing but some philosophical remarks that I should think are rather common sense and a boring description of what Madame Bovary’s life should have been. I saw the ending already, without having gotten there. Another Anna Karenina type of a woman – romantic in its notion but disgusting in its reality. I have to say, that I was so completely bored with the book that I just about gave up on it. Yet, I felt like I had to finish it. The boyfriend chirps in that it’s a classic, so even if I don’t like it in the end, it deserves to be read. So, I continue flipping the pages unenthusiastically.

Then, I find myself nearly towards the end of the book, the day has grown dark and time seemed to fly by. Furthermore, even though I was rather hungry, I could not tear myself away from the novel. Then it hit me – the novel ceased to bore me and became rather entertaining past Volume 1. The last few chapters were particularly fantastic and although it was indeed an Anna Karenina ending, somehow I managed not to judge it harshly at all.

So, why am I telling you about this book? Because after the boyfriend pointed out that many things in life are just like my experience with Madame Bovary, I realized that that was in fact completely true. How many times do we go through life, having to deal with things that bore us to no end, ready to give up any second – but, if we hold out, if we finish that project or walk that extra mile – we feel a sense of satisfaction that could not be achieved any other way. We see things that otherwise we wouldn’t have seen. We meet people that we would not have met. I’ve talked about this before, but it really does pay off to keep going – one way or another.

2 Responses to “What I learned from Madame Bovary.”

1. Alana says:

   February 1, 2010 at 17:42

   So true. I think I needed to read this post today, I feel like I have a little bit of extra patience to get through a few things now. :)

   Reply
   • K says:

     February 1, 2010 at 22:49

     I hope I won’t be wrong and you’ll be rewarded in some way or another once you’ve gotten through them. :) Good luck!

     Reply